Card index file cabinet



May 12,1931. v

v I/VI/ENTORS BERNARD L. POLKOSNIK LLLLMLQ JOHN w. DONALDSON Patented May 12, 1931 warren sraras EI ATENT GFFEGF.

JOHN VI. DONALDSON, OF IRVTNGTON, NEW YGBK, AND BERNARD L. POLKOSNIK, OF

TWICE, CONNECTICUT can-n rnnnx FILE. CABIN T Application filed (Ectober 22, 1927. Serial No. 227,950.

The invention relates to improvements in visible card index trays for file cabinets of the type that permit the tray, when slid outwardly, being moved to a vertical position in 5 order that convenient access may be had to the cards.

The general object of the invention is to provide a tray of this type that can be easily inserted within the cabinet and when slid 1o outwardly and moved to a vertical position will be'positively held against accidental detachment from the cabinet.

Another object is to permit of the convenient insertion and withdrawal of the tray.

Other objects will appear as the specification proceeds, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the file 2 cabinet disclosing compartments for the card trays and flanges.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the tray adapted to be mounted within the cabinet, certain parts being broken away.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of the tray mounted in the cabinet.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the letter A designates a cabinet equipped Wlbll a plurality of trays B which are slidable in 30 vertical compartments C, one above the other,

each tray being equipped with a plurality of pivotally mounted index cards D. The forward edges of the side Walls of the cabinet are bentinwardly to provide vertical flanges 35 01' stops E.

Each of the trays B has the inner end thereof provided with an extension which is divided into spaced sections 5 and 6. Spaced pairs of knuckles 7 and 8 are secured to the 0 inner end of the tray B adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof, and the knuckles forming each pair are spaced from each other and receive therebetween knuckles 9 and 10 formed respectively on the sections 5 and 6. 45 The sections are also provided with spaced knuckles l1 and 12 located adjacent the opposing ends of the sections 5 and 6 and lying between the innermost knuckles of the pairs 7 and 8.

A pintle 13 extends through the knuckles 7,

8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 and pivotally secures the sections 5 and 6 to the tray B. The section 6 is adapted to have slidable movement on the pintle 13. The knuckle 10 thereon is 01": less width than the remainder of the knuckles and is spaced from the innermost knuckle of the pair 8. A coiled expansion spring 14 surrounds the pintle and is interposed be tween the knuckle l0 and the innermost knuckle of the pair 8 and normally holds the sections 5 and 6 of the extension in spaced relation. The section 6 is also slidable on a rod Which has one end fixed in the section 5.

It will be noted by referring to Figure 2 of the drawings that the terminals of the coils of the spring 14; rest underneath the end of the tray and knuckle 10. By this arrange ment the spring 14 will normally hold the sections 5 and 6 in alignment with the longitudiplane of the tray. when the latter is in detached position from the cabinet, thereby permitting of convenient insertion of the tray in the cabinet.

The tray B and the extension are adapted to slide on the floor of the compartments and the outer ends of the sections forming the extension are provided with lugs 16 and 17 which are adapted to engage the flanges E when the tray is moved to the maximum outward position, thereby preventing accidental detachment of the tray from the cabinet A. l Vhen the tray B is drawn outwardly the same may be swung to vertical position so that convenient access may be had to index cards B mounted on the tray.

The knuckles 11 and 12 have manipulating flanges formed thereon and are in such close relation to each other so as to permit of the same being grasped by the fingers of one hand to. efiect an inward sliding movement of the section 6 in order to withdraw the lug 16 out of alignment with the flange 'E on the cabinet whereby the tray may be inserted or withdrawn from the cabinet.

l Vhat is claimed as new is:

1. In a card index, the combination with a cabinet, of a tray slidably mounted within the cabinet, stops located at the forward end of the cabinet, an extension pivotally connected' to the inner end of the tray and normally held in alignment with the longitudinal plane of the tray, and formed of a pair of normally spaced sections, one of the sections being adapted to have slidable movement on the tray, a pair of manipulating elements formed respectively transversely of the se0-- tions, and means carried by the sections and adapted to engage the stops on the cabinet, when the tray is slid outwardly, to prevent accidental detachment of the tray from the cabinet.

7 2. In a card index, the combination with a cabinet body, of a tray slidably mounted within the body, an extension pivotally secured to the inner end of the tray and formed of a pair of sections, one of the sec tions forming the extension being adapted for sliding movement transversely of the tray, and resiliently held in spaced relation to the companion section, a stop located at the forward end ofthe cabinet, and means carried by the slidable section for engaging the stop, when the tray is moved outwardly, to prevent accidental detachment ofthe tray from the cabinet.

3. In a card index, the combination with a cabinet body having stops at the forward end thereof, of a tray slidably mounted within the cabinet, an extension pivotally secured to the inner end of the tray and formed of a pair of sections, one of the sections being adapted for slidable movement transversely of the tray, a resilient element associated with the tray and effective for normally holding the slidable section in spaced relation to the companion section, a pair of 0pposed manipulating flanges formed respectively on the sections, and means carried by the sections for engaging the stops on the cabinet, when the tray is moved outwardly, to prevent accidental detachment of the tray from the cabinet.

JOHN W. DONALDSON. BERNARD L. POLKOSNIK. 

